I'm having a problem with the reliability of my wireless network connection. I can always wirelessly connect to the internet just fine whether it be at school, home, or an internet hotspot. My problem is that my connection is constantly going in and out. My internet browser will be serving up websites just fine for 4 or 5 minutes but will then pause for maybe 15 seconds and then begin working as usual after the pause. I also notice this with online games, email, instant messenger... the works. The odd part is that I will sometimes go for days without any problems and then, without changing anything, the pauses will come back. Maybe this is just a constant problem with wireless connections--I really don't know! All I know is that when I plug in directly to the router, I experience no problems, but when I connect wirelessly my connection becomes unreliable.

Like I said, maybe this is just a common nuisance with wireless connections, but it would be nice to hear otherwise!

_Aerospace_Eng_

07-27-2005, 08:49 PM

Do you have any cordless phones in your home? Cordless phones with the same frequency as the router are known to interfere with the wireless connection from time to time. It happens in my house some times. Have you tried getting the latest drivers from your wireless cards manufacturer?

pardicity3

07-27-2005, 10:25 PM

I've installed the most recent driver and I have attempted to unplug all the portable phones in the house--the problem still exists. Do most wireless users experience uninterrupted internet access?

JamieR

07-27-2005, 10:37 PM

It could be a problem with the actual adaptor, but I think that's unlikely seeing as you can connect at school fine. Sounds like something is interfering with it...what type of security does your wireless lan have and have you tried moving the router to a different place in the house?

oracleguy

07-28-2005, 05:22 PM

What OS are you using? If you are using Windows on it, and it is a Centrino, I'd assume XP. Are you using SP2 for Windows XP? I know in either SP1 or SP2 they did fix a lot of problems with wireless network cards in Windows. I think your issue might have been one of them.

JamieR

07-28-2005, 05:29 PM

Also I've seen circumstances where the wireless connection has been more reliable when you manage it with the devices manurfacturers own software, and not letting windows manage it ;)

glmsbrt69

07-29-2005, 01:48 AM

I have the same problem. Well had. I have a Linksys card & access point. I was getting so frustrated (to put it mildly) that I just took a really long data cable and ran it from the wall across my house to my computer. (Looked very tacky.) I was ready to throw the whole stupid wireless thing in the garbage. But instead I found this neat little "reset" button on the back, it's tiny and you have to poke it with a paperclip or something similar to actually reset it. I did that about 5 times. It wiped out everything, :o hubby had to put all the #'s back in and now it works like a dream. So maybe try resetting it a few times. Worked for me. You never know, might work for you too. ;)

oracleguy

07-30-2005, 04:14 AM

So to be clear, is it at one place you are having problems at? Like at home or school? Or is it every place you seem to have this problem?

pardicity3

07-30-2005, 09:55 PM

Sorry for the late reply! I've been out of town. Thanks for all your replies up to this point.

To clear things up: I experience the problem everywhere, not just at home. I'm on Windows XP SP2 and I am letting Windows manage the wireless. The router isn't using any security measures, and moving to a different place in the house wouldn't seem to help as I have a full strength connection at almost all times as does the other computer in the house (which doesn't seem to have the same problem as my computer).

I might try the reset idea as my parents are the ones who setup the router and I never can trust them to do computer-related things right!

Oh, on the subject of Windows XP service packs, I noticed the problem as soon as I recieved the laptop (2 years ago) at which time I think Windows was already on SP1. Anyway, updating to SP2 didn't help the problem.

That's all I got for now. All I could find on Intel's website was a suggestion in regards to portable phones, but as I already mentioned unplugging the phones didn't seem to remedy the problem.

_Aerospace_Eng_

07-30-2005, 09:58 PM

The reference I made to portable phones was when they were used not just being plugged in. Did your wireless card come with any software of its own? Its often best to use the software that came with your card rather than the windows wireless management system.

oracleguy

07-30-2005, 10:00 PM

Well then it sounds like it is definetly a computer problem and not a router problem. Have you tried updating the drivers? Assuming there are newer ones available. Otherwise, if it is a problem that has been there since you got it, maybe the integrated wireless antenna is faulty. If your laptop is still under warrenty and you want to deal with that hassle, it might be an angle to try.